Order of Service - 24th December 2002

Order of Service - 24th December 2002

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New Utrecht Reformed Church

328 Years
1677-2005

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Christmas Eve Service

In the night, Mary's Baby was born. She wrapped Him in cloths to keep him warm and laid Him in the soft hay in the manger. She adored the tiny child and remembered that the angel had said, "He shall be the Son of God."

We invite you to maintain a spirit of silence as the prelude begins our service.

OUR APPROACH TO GOD

Prince
of
Peace

Prelude
Introit

Welcome

The Lighting of the Candles

The first candle
This night is the eve of the great nativity
BORN IS THE SON OF MARY THE VIRGIN
The soles of his feet have reached the earth,
THE SON OF GLORY DOWN FROM ON HIGH,
Heaven and earth glowed to him,
ALL HAIL! LET THERE BE JOY!

The second candle
The peace of earth to him, the joy of heaven to him,
THE HOMAGE OF A KING TO BE HIS,
The welcome of a lamb be his,
KING ALL VICTORIOUS,
LAMB ALL GLORIOUS,
Earth and ocean illumed to him,
ALL HAIL! LET THERE BE JOY!

The third candle
The mountains glowed to him, the plains glowed to him,
THE VOICE OF THE WAVES WITH THE SONG OF THE STRAND,
Announcing to us that Christ is born,
SON OF THE KING OF KINGS FROM THE LAND OF SALVATION;
Shone the sun on the mountains high to him,
ALL HAIL! LET THERE BE JOY!

The fourth candle
Shone to him the earth and sphere together,
GOD THE LORD HAS OPENED A DOOR;
Son of Mary Virgin, hasten thou to help me,
THOU CHRIST OF HOPE, THOU DOOR OF JOY,
Golden Sun of hill and mountain,
ALL HAIL! LET THERE BE JOY!

*Hymn 145 "All Come All Ye Faithful"

Unison Prayer:

GOD AND FATHER OF JESUS, ON THIS HOLY NIGHT YOU GIVE US YOUR SON, THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE SAVIOR OF ALL PEOPLES, AS AN INFANT WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES AND LYING IN A MANGER. IN THE FIRST MOMENTS OF HIS LIFE YOU SHOWED US THE PARADOX OF YOUR LOVE. OPEN US UP TO THE MYSTERY OF HIS POWERLESSNESS AND ENABLE US TO RECOGNIZE HIM IN THIS PLAIN SPOKEN WORD, IN THE EYES OF THE POOR, IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD. THIS WE ASK IN HIS NAME, HE WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

Children's Sermon

Hymn 138 "Go Tell It On The Mountain"

A Service of Lessons and Carols
The First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2-7

*Hymn 148 "O Holy Night"

The Second Lesson: Micah 5:2-5

REJOICE

*Hymn 141 "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

The Third Lesson: Luke 2:1-7

*Hymn 128 "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"

The Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:8-14

*Hymn 132 "Angels We Have Heard On High"

The Fifth Lesson: Luke 2:15-20

*Hymn 147 "Silent Night"

"A Christmas Creed" read in the darkness

RESPONSE TO THE GOOD NEWS OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST!
(All the candles are now lit!)

This day true peace has come down to us from heaven,
THIS DAY THE HEAVENS DRIP HONEY UPON THE ENTIRE WORLD!
This day brought the day of new redemption,
OF THE DELIVERANCE ANNOUNCED OF OLD, OF ETERNAL HAPPINESS!
Let us this day with delight in the Lord
AND LET OUR HEARTS BE FILLED WITH REJOICING,
For eternal salvation has appeared on the earth,
LET ALL THE EARTH BOW TO YOU & SING TO YOU, LET ALL SING YOUR NAME MOST HIGH! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

*Hymn 133 "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing!"

REJOICE
PEACE
EMMANUEL
He is Born!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
GLORY
NOEL
JESUS

*Please stand if you are able.

We wish you a very merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Join us for worship, each Sunday at 11 am!

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